title: Aberrant pre-receptor regulation of estrogen and progesterone action in endometrial cancer.
abstract: Endometrial cancer is related to estrogen stimulation not opposed by progesterone. We have examined expression of the pre-receptor regulatory enzymes aromatase, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17beta-HSDs), 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (20alpha-HSDs), sulfatase and sulfotransferase, and estrogen (ERs) and progesterone (PRs) receptors in samples of endometrial cancer and adjacent normal endometrium. No significant gene up-regulation was seen, although aromatase, AKR1C3, a 17beta-HSD and 20alpha-HSD, and AKR1C1, the major 20alpha-HSD, were up-regulated in 50% of samples. Significant down-regulation was seen for 17beta-HSD types 1 and 7, sulfotransferase, ERalpha, ERbeta, PR-AB. Western blotting revealed higher levels of AKR1C3 and PR-B and lower levels of ERalpha in cancerous endometrium, and immunohistochemistry confirmed expression of AKR1C3, PR-B and ERalpha at the cellular level. Up-regulation of aromatase in concert with AKR1C3 can lead to increased levels of estradiol, which acts via ERalpha. Up-regulation of AKR1C1 and AKR1C3 can result in lower levels of the protective progesterone, which acts mainly via PR-B.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smuc
authors.forename: Tea Lanisnik
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Rizner
mesh_terms: D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015089:20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000074425:Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3; D001141:Aromatase / Q000378:metabolism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000201:enzymology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004967:Estrogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D011374:Progesterone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000378:metabolism*; D013429:Sulfatases / Q000378:metabolism; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011987:Receptors, Steroid; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D015067:17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015096:3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D015089:20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; C115140:3 alpha-beta, 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; D006911:Hydroxyprostaglandin Dehydrogenases; C487341:AKR1C3 protein, human; D000074425:Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member C3; C044256:3 (or 17)-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; D001141:Aromatase; D015238:Sulfotransferases; D013429:Sulfatases